Construction of bridges and the like



Oct. 10, 1950 E. w. ROPER CONSTRUCTION 0F BRIDGES AND THE LIKE `5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1947 Oct. 10, 1950 E. w. ROPER CONSTRUCTION 0F` BRIDGES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 25, i947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 10, 1950 E. w. ROPER CONSTRUCTION oF BRIDGES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 25, 1947 r 0u au H1 um MVIS M@ M m\\ m t Z :N W y Q E Q w #OQ f N Q\ NO@ Patented Oct. 10, 1950 CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES AND THE LIKE Eric William Roper, Beckenham, England Application February 25, 1947, Serial No. 730,840 In Great Britain May 31, 1946 4 Claims.

This invention relates to building or construction sets for building short span or toy bridges, platforms, viaducts and the like. The invention is particularly but not `exclusively adapted for making toy bridges.

According to the present invention the building set comprises a series of support members each comprising a base extending in -a generally horizontal direction having spaced arms extending from the base in a vertical direction, and a series of connector members having means for interlocking with the bases and arms of adjacent support members whereby a series of support members may be connected together in spaced parallel alignment to form a bridge or like structure.

To enable the invention to be fully understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is la side elevation of one of the support members,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a connector member,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the connector member,

Fig. 4 is a plan View of half of a oor member, the other half being symmetrical about the line Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the parts assembled to form a bridge,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bridge shown in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6.

As shown in the accompanying drawings the building set comprises a series of transverse support members a and connector members b. Each support member ci comprises a sheet of metal or other suitable stiff material of substantially U- shape having a base I extending in a generally horizontal plane and arms 2 extending vertically from opposite ends of the base. The upper ends of the arms 2 are formed with inwardly extending portions 3 having slots 4 to form hook-like portions. As the members a are preferably made of thin gauge sheet metal a strengthening rib 5 may be embossed on the sheet to extend along the base I and up the arms 2.

The connector members b are also formed from relatively thin gauge sheet metal or other suitable material and comprise a generally rectangular body 6 provided with extensions 'I at opposite ends of its upper edge and extensions 8 at the opposite ends of its lower edge, the extensions l, 8 being formed with slots la, 8a respectively. The upper and lower edges are also provided with lugs 9 extending from the same side of the body substantially at right angles thereto.

The floor member shewn in Fig. 4 comprises a flat sheet I of metal or other suitable material only one half of the sheet is shewn in Fig. 4 but the other half is symmetrical with that shewn. Each longitudinal side edge of the sheet is out and bent to provide upstanding wall portions IE and a further series of shorter upstanding wall portions I2 set back inwardly of the portions II to provide spaced recesses I3 which are of greater length than the lugs 9 of the connector members b. A pair of slots I4 are provided adjacent to the opposite ends of the sheet Il).

To erect a bridge as shewn in Figs. 5 to 7, the transverse supports a are connected together in spaced parallel arrangement by engaging the slots 'Ia into the slots 4 `of adjacent supports a positioning the slots 8a to t over the bases I of the adjacent members a and sliding the connecting members outwardly over the bases I to the vertical position shewn in Fig. '7 when the respective pairs of slots 'Ia,`8a make a fairly tight lit with` the co-operating parts ofthe bases l and portions 3 of the adjacent members a.

. It will be noted that each of the arms 2 of the members a are connected to -an arm of an adjacent member a bya connector member b. Any desired length of bridge may be erected by assembling further support members by means of the connector members.

The floor member is positioned between the arms 2 of the assembled support members .a and adjusted to bring the recesses I3 into register with the lugs 9 which, being of shorter length than the recesses, allow the floor to pass them to rest on the upper edges of the bases I. The noor is then moved longitudinally to position the edges of upstanding walls I2 beneath the lugs 9 to lock the floor in position.

If desired, a ramp comprising a substantially flat plate, indicated by I5, may provide a sloping approach from the supporting surface on which the bridge is standing and the ramp may be -attached by downturned tongues or hooks It provided on the end of the ramp Vengaging in the slots I4 in the floor.

The invention is particularly applicable for building toy bridges, or viaducts for toy railways etc. and it will be understood that any length of bridge or viaduct may be erected by simply connecting the appropriate number of the parts a by the connectors b and fitting the necessary number of floor members. v

The connectors b provide a rigid connection between the transverse members and provide a bridge or the like which is capable of withstanding considerable weight.

The invention is not necessarily limited to toys and by using parts of suitable size and strength it is possible to construct a short span bridge capable of carrying pedestrian and/or light vehicular traic.

I claim:

1. A toy bridge comprising a plurality of U- shaped supports each comprising a horizontally extending base and an arm extending vertically at each opposite end of said base, an integral inturned portion at the upper end of each arm and a plurality of plate-like connector members detachably connected with said supports, an integral slotted portion at each end of the lower edge ofsaid connector members for sliding locking engagement with the bases of said supports and an integral slotted portion at each end of the upper edge of said connector members making interlocking engagement with said inturned portions of said arms, and a floor member detachably supported on the base portions of said supports4 2. A building set for constructing toy bridges comprising a plurality of U-shaped support members each comprising a horizontally extending base, and an arm extending vertically from each end of said base, inturned hook-shaped portions integral with the upper end of said vertical arms, a plurality of plate-like connector members for connecting said supports, a pair of spaced slotted portions at the lower edge of said connector members adapted for sliding engagement over the bases of said support members, and a pair of spaced slotted portions at the upper edge of said connector members for making interlocking engagement with the inturned hook-shaped portions of the said connector members, and a oor member for assembly on the bases of the said support. Y

3. A building set for constructing toy bridges consisting of a plurality of U-shaped supports, each comprising a horizontal base and an arm extending vertically from each opposite end of said base, an integral portion at the upper end ofA each vertical arm extending inwardly to overhang said base, and a series of connector members for connecting the said supports in parallel spaced relation, a slotted portion at the opposite ends of the lower edge of said connector members for sliding engagement with the base portions of the supports, slotted portions at the opposite ends of the upper edge of said connector members for interlocking engagement with the inwardly extending portions of the said Vertical arms and a floor member for assembly on the said bases of said supports.

4. A short span bridge for supporting pedestrian or light vehicular trac, comprising a plurality of U-shaped transverse supports each comprising a horizontally extending base and an arm extending vertically from each opposite end of said base, integral hook-shaped portions at the upper end of each arm, and a plurality of plate-like connector members extending longitudinally between adjacent supports, integral slotted means at each end of the lower edge of said connector members slidably engaging the bases of said adjacent supports, integral slotted means at each end of the upper edge of each connector member making interlocking engagement under said hook-shaped portions of said supports and a floor member detachably mounted on said base members.

ERIC WILLIAM ROPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 999,466 Richter Aug. 1, 1911 1,156,053 Brown Oct. 12, 1915 1,248,617 Chein Dec. 4, 1917 1,706,924 Kane Mar. 26, 1929 

